Media

Espoo Innovation Garden was showcased as an exemplary innovation practice at a CEBIT Exhibition conference in Hannover 16th March. The exhibition is arranged by Germany's largest ICT industry association VAMT in collaboration with the large European teleoperator Telefonica and the Media Group Berlin. The conference focused around the theme of innovation, infrastructure and broadband.

Espoo Innovation Garden was highlighted as a near-to-Germany example of a high tech ecosystem, where companies work together with academia in collaborative research. Espoo Innovation Garden's significant strength in creating a big number of fundable startups was addressed and finally the Finnish approach that broadband is everyman's right was discussed. Practically everyone in Finland is connected to either 4G mobile broadband or they have broadband at home. General access to high speed broadband is one of the main objectives of the VATM and the organisation sees Germany as lagging behind in the European broadband access development and are looking to in particular Finland as a role model which Germany should follow.

Espoo Innovation Garden was showcased in the panel discussion moderated by Kerstin Stromberg-Mallmann on the topic of Innovation, Growth and Global Access. The panel discussion participants included COO Ari Huczkowski from Espoo Innovation Garden, Director Corporate Affairs Valentina Daiber of Telefonica Germany, Chairman of the Board Stefan Koetz of Ericsson Germany, IT Park Saarland's Professor Dr Peter Hartz (famous for his significant contributions to the Volkswagen group), State Secretary of Science and Technology Ministry of Sachsen-Anhalt Dr Tamara Zieschang and Federal State Secretary of Science and Energy Ministry of Germany Brigitte Zypries.

The panel discussion higlighted two cases, alongside Espoo Innovation Garden, the German-Chinese Healthcare City "Five Rivers" on the seaside in Northeastern China presented by Professor Dr Peter Hartz addressing the huge demographics shift China is experiencing with their aging population. Over 250 million Chinese will be over 65 by 2030. The "Five Rivers" new city serves as a model example of a large scale city built for the "Longinos", elderly people with an active lifestyle and where the latest healthcare technology is readily available.

Espoo Innovation Garden is a growing and developing ecosystem that offers diverse services in the area that includes Otaniemi, Keilaniemi and Tapiola in Espoo. It is the home of the most exciting innovation hub in the Northern Europe with thriving international companies, the hottest Startup Sauna on the planet, various cultural activities and sports clubs as well as a renowned community of scientists and researchers. Science and technology, business, arts and sports all make the Garden flourish. In Espoo Innovation Garden high-tech business and nature are well in balance.

A total of 5,000 researchers, 25 research and development organisations and a number of Finnish listed companies operate in the area People of 100 different nationalities working in the area make it a community of strong international character. The active centre of science and business is enriched by abundant offering of arts and cultural events.

Espoo's success in the European Commission's 2014 call for the European Capital of Innovation inspired our gardeners to continue cultivating the Espoo soil to make it even more of a fertile ground for growth and innovation. Espoo managed to get onto the shortlist of six prominent cities from among 58 applicant cities.

VATM is the industry association of the information and communications technology companies of Germany. VATM's main objective is to increase competition in the telecommunications business in Germany, promote single digital market in the EU and drive the development of broadband connectivity in Germany.

Telefonica Germany is a large telecommunications company listed in the Frankfurt Stock Exchange. Telefonica Germany belongs to the Madrid, Spain headquartered Telefonica Group.

Media Group Berlin is a Berlin-based media company focused on media connections, media events, public policy, innovation and technology news articles and events. Media Group Berlin works closely together with VATM and its other clients include Microsoft, BMW and different German Federal and Bundesland Ministries and other organizations.